Gary Busey Biography: Movies, Net Worth, Height, Spouse, TV Shows, Wife, Children, Parents, Age

Gary Busey is an American actor renowned for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in the 1978 film “The Buddy Holly Story,” a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

His career spans over five decades and includes notable performances in films such as “Lethal Weapon,” “Point Break,” and “Under Siege.” Beyond acting, Busey has ventured into music and reality television, showcasing his diverse talents.

Profile

• Full name: William Gary Busey
• Nickname: Gary Busey
• Date of birth: June 29, 1944
• Age: 81 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Goose Creek, Texas, USA
• State of origin: Texas
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actor, musician
• Height: 6 feet (1.83 meters)
• Parents: Delmar Lloyd Busey (father), Sadie Virginia Arnett (mother)
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Tiani Warden (m. 1996; div. 2001)
• Children: William Jacob “Jake” Busey, Alectra Busey, Luke Sampson Busey
• Relationship status: N/A
• Religion: Christianity
• Ethnicity: English, Irish, Scottish, German
• Net worth: $500,000

Early Life and Education

Gary Busey, now 81 years old, was born on June 29, 1944, in Goose Creek, Texas. He is the son of Sadie Virginia (Arnett), a homemaker, and Delmar Lloyd Busey, a construction design manager. Busey attended Nathan Hale High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating in 1962.

He briefly attended Pittsburg State University in Kansas on a football scholarship before a knee injury led him to shift his focus to theater studies. He later transferred to Oklahoma State University but left before earning a degree.

Personal Life

Busey has three children: William Jacob “Jake” Busey, born in 1971, who is also an actor; Alectra Busey; and Luke Sampson Busey. He was married to actress Tiani Warden from 1996 until their divorce in 2001. Details about his current relationship status are not publicly available.

In 1988, Busey suffered a severe motorcycle accident, resulting in a fractured skull and permanent brain damage. He has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and his journey to recovery, becoming a born-again Christian in the process.

Career

Busey‘s career began in the late 1960s as a drummer, playing in several bands before transitioning to acting. He made his film debut in “Angels Hard as They Come” (1971) and gained critical acclaim for his role as Buddy Holly in “The Buddy Holly Story” (1978), earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Busey appeared in notable films such as “Lethal Weapon” (1987), “Point Break” (1991), and “Under Siege” (1992). He also made television appearances on shows like “Gunsmoke,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and “Law & Order.”

Busey‘s performances have earned him critical acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in “The Buddy Holly Story” (1978). He also won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor for the same role.

Net Worth

Gary Busey‘s net worth is estimated to be around $500,000. His earnings have primarily come from his acting career, spanning over five decades and encompassing roles in film, television, and music.

Controversy

Throughout his career, Busey has faced several controversies. In August 2022, he was charged with sexual offenses at a horror fan convention in New Jersey, including criminal sexual contact and harassment.

In August 2023, he was accused of a hit-and-run incident in Malibu, California, where he allegedly collided with another vehicle and left the scene without providing his information.

In 1988, Busey suffered a severe motorcycle accident, resulting in a fractured skull and permanent brain damage. He has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and his journey to recovery, becoming a born-again Christian in the process.

Social Media

N/A

Filmography

• The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
• Lethal Weapon (1987)
• Point Break (1991)
• Under Siege (1992)
• The Firm (1993)